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 What is Equine Assisted Counseling and Psychotherapy?
Equine Assisted Counseling and Psychotherapy is a form of professional counseling that incorporates equines (horses and donkeys) into the counseling process. This intervention is co-facilitated by a counselor and equine specialist. Please click here to learn more. We work with clients from the North Texas community, both military and non-military!

Do you only work with military veterans and families?
We work with both non-military and military clients from the North Texas community! Our counselors are specially trained to work with military clients and we are proud to have grant funding available to serve our local veterans, service members, and military families. We also work with many non-military child, adolescent, and adult clients as well and specialize in addressing a wide range of mental health concerns such as trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, attention-related problems, grief, school and/or work stress, relationship problems, anger issues, and many other issues.

Why do I need an Equine Specialist?
The primary job of the Equine Specialist (ES) is to protect the physical safety of both clients and animals. The ES is a certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (or an ES-In-Training under the supervision of a PATH Intl. ESMHL) and is trained to work with equines in mental health practice. The ES takes primary responsibility for the physical safety of all involved (both human and equine) and the welfare of the equine during the session. The ES will work with your counselor to carefully balance your needs with the needs of the animals. The ES will also monitor the animals for stress (and intervene when necessary), assist with treatment planning, and offer feedback during the session.
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Will I get to ride the horses during counseling?
There is no riding in equine assisted counseling and psychotherapy - all work with equines is done on the ground. Working with equines on the ground enables you to form a more authentic relationship with your horse without the interference of bridles and saddles. After clients have have met their treatment goals or have made significant progress towards their treatment goals, they may be eligible to participate in our non-clinical therapeutic horsemanship services which can include riding.

What should I wear?
We recommend that you wear something that feels comfortable to you. As we are outside with equines, you can expect your clothes and shoes to get a little dirty! Clients are required to wear appropriate footwear (sturdy closed-toe shoes) during interaction with equines. Helmets are not required for unmounted sessions but are available upon request. We encourage you to bring water, sunscreen, and bug spray. Layers, hats, and gloves are strongly encouraged during the winter months.

How do I schedule appointments?
Appointments are typically scheduled on the hour Monday through Thursday between 10:00am and 6:00pm. 

Due to the fact that we coordinate each member of the treatment team's (counselor, equine specialist, and equine) schedule for your appointment, we ask that you commit to a regular weekly time and attend consistently. (Of course, we understand that you may occasionally need to miss for vacations, illness, etc.).  This will ensure that your entire treatment team will be available for you. If you are unable to commit to weekly appointments, we cannot hold a reserved time slot on the schedule for you. We will do our best to schedule appointments for you as we have availability but will be unable to guarantee appointment availability in a given week.

Do you cancel sessions if it's raining, too hot, or too cold?
We try to avoid canceling sessions due to weather except when absolutely necessary. During inclement weather such as rain or extreme hot/cold temperatures, we may move the session to a covered area or indoors. In the case of dangerous weather (such as tornadoes), your counselor will call or text you to cancel. 

What should I expect in the first session?
We strongly encourage you to complete all paperwork in the Client Portal. (A portal invitation will be sent to you after scheduling your first appointment). By completing this paperwork in advance, we will have more time to thoroughly discuss your concerns and interact with the horses. For minor clients, we require all legal guardians to sign a Parental Consent form. In addition, we require copies of any court orders (or other legal documents) pertaining to conservatorship or custody. 

​Upon arriving, you will first meet your counselor and equine specialist treatment team. You will then  discuss your concerns and goals for counseling, as well as complete intake assessments. The remaining time will be used to get to know the equines. Once you have found an equine with whom you feel comfortable, you can select this equine as your chosen counseling equine to work with each week. 

​What are your fees?
Fees range between $85-$150 per session depending on which counselor you are assigned to. The following groups may qualify for free services:

• Texas military veterans, service members, and family members: Active duty and reservist service members who have served in a warzone, all Veterans, and family members of Texas Veterans (or active-duty service members who have served in warzone) may qualify for 16 grant-funded sessions free of charge. Learn more about grant-funded services for military
• Members of minority racial or ethnic groups: Tarrant County residents experiencing financial hardship who identify as racial or ethnic minorities may qualify for 16 grant-funded sessions free of charge through the United Way of Tarrant County Safety Net grant. Learn more about grant-funded services for racial and ethnic minorities
• Youth with a disability: Youth currently enrolled in grades Pre-K through 12 in a Texas public school and receiving services through Special Education may qualify for an SSES grant to cover our services. Learn more about the SSES grant program

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You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit
www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.  

Do you accept insurance?
STEPS does not file directly with any insurance providers. We will be happy to provide you with the necessary paperwork to file for reimbursement with your insurance company for non- or out-of-network services upon request. We encourage you to contact your insurance company to inquire about your out-of-network benefits and/or benefits for psychotherapy services. Tricare clients may be eligible for free grant-funded services for military clients.

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